WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which reauthorizes important national defense programs and strengthens our national security. The NDAA also includes many provisions authored by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, including amendments to support services and diversity at U.S. service academies and in military leadership.
“Our service academies attract the best and the brightest leaders of tomorrow, and it’s my honor to represent our cadets at West Point,” Maloney said. “It’s critical that the education and training our cadets receive reflects the diversity of our nation and is forward-thinking. Many of the amendments I fought for in this year’s defense package will strengthen the diversity of our service academies, and ensure our service academies are inclusive for every young cadet.”
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is located in New York’s 18th Congressional District. Maloney fought to include several amendments in the NDAA to strengthen West Point and every service academy.
His amendments will:
• Increase diversity in the military services: Rep. Maloney’s amendment will require the Department of Defense to establish goals for increasing women and minorities in the military services, including at service academies. Our service academies, including the West Point, have made great progress in supporting diversity and inclusion in cadet ranks, and this amendment would further this progress.
• Establish mentoring and career development programs at service academies: Maloney’s amendment would require the establishment of a comprehensive mentoring program and career development framework with measurable metrics to increase diversity at service academies. USMA has a unique and successful program, which can be a model for all service academies.
• Require a review of diverse curriculum and instruction at service academies: Maloney’s amendment would require the creation of a report to the Secretary of Defense and Congress on Equal Opportunity Claims and determinations of academies over the past 20 years, create a climate survey of cadets conducted by an external entity, and review educational and extracurricular instruction to ensure the inclusion of minority communities in authorship and course content. The amendment would also require a review of faculty and staff demographics at all service academies to ensure a diverse educational experience for cadets.
• Support medical services at service academy medical facilities: Maloney’s amendment would ensure the availability of certain medical services at service academies (like those available at Keller Army Community Hospital at West Point), including emergency room services, orthopedic services, general surgery services and gynecological services.
This year’s NDAA also includes a provision that will require the Department of Defense to identify, report on a process and change the names of all military bases and infrastructure named for individuals who took up arms against America by serving in the Confederacy, with the process to be completed in one year.
In June, Maloney wrote to the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Army requesting the removal of all Confederate symbols at West Point.
